Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display includes: providing a pixel electrode on an insulation substrate; providing a sacrificial layer on the pixel electrode; providing a common electrode on the sacrificial layer; providing a photoresist layer on the common electrode; exposing a portion of the photoresist layer, common electrode and the sacrificial layer with light; developing the portion of the photoresist layer exposed with the light; etching a layer between the photoresist layer and the sacrificial layer using the developed photoresist layer as a mask to expose the portion of the sacrificial layer exposed with the light; removing the portion of the sacrificial layer exposed with the light; providing a roof layer on the insulation substrate and etching the roof layer to form a liquid crystal injection hole therein; and removing the sacrificial layer exposed through the liquid crystal injection hole to form a microcavity.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/209,263, filed on Mar. 13, 2014, which claims priority to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2013-0026848 filed on Mar. 13, 2013, and allthe benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the content ofwhich in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

(a) Field

The invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a manufacturingmethod of the liquid crystal display, and more particularly, to a liquidcrystal display having a liquid crystal layer in a microcavity, and amanufacturing method of the liquid crystal display.

(b) Description of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display, which is one of the most widely used type offlat panel display device, typically includes two display panels wherefield generating electrodes such as a pixel electrode and a commonelectrode are provided, and a liquid crystal layer interposed betweenthe two display panels.

The liquid crystal display generates an electric field in the liquidcrystal layer by applying voltages to the field generating electrodes todetermine orientations of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystallayer and control polarization of incident light, thereby displaying animage.

A liquid crystal display having an embedded microcavity (“EM”) structure(e.g., nanocrystal structure) is a display device manufactured byproviding a sacrificial layer with a photoresist, removing thesacrificial layer after coating a support member thereon, and filling aliquid crystal in an empty space provided by removing the sacrificiallayer.

In such a liquid crystal display, when developing the sacrificial layeror performing a heat treatment for an overlying layer, a characteristicthereof may be changed such that the sacrificial layer may partiallyremain in the space to be filled by the liquid crystal when removing thesacrificial layer. Also, the common electrode may have a curvedstructure according to the sacrificial layer such that the commonelectrode may be disposed substantially close to the underlying pixelelectrode.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a liquid crystaldisplay including a microcavity having a substantially uniform cell gapand a manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display. Exemplaryembodiments of the invention relate to a liquid crystal display, inwhich a common electrode and a pixel electrode have a substantiallyuniform distance therebetween, and a manufacturing method of the liquidcrystal display.

An exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquid crystaldisplay according to the invention includes: providing a pixel electrodeon an insulation substrate; providing a sacrificial layer on the pixelelectrode; providing a common electrode on the sacrificial layer;providing a photoresist layer on the common electrode; exposing aportion of the photoresist layer, common electrode and the sacrificiallayer with light; developing the portion of the photoresist layerexposed with the light; etching a layer between the photoresist layerand the sacrificial layer using the developed photoresist layer as amask to expose the portion of the sacrificial layer exposed with thelight; removing the portion of the sacrificial layer exposed with thelight; providing a roof layer on the insulation substrate and etchingthe roof layer to form a liquid crystal injection hole therein; andremoving the sacrificial layer exposed through the liquid crystalinjection hole to form a microcavity.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further includes providing alower insulating layer between the common electrode and the photoresistlayer, where the sacrificial layer, the common electrode and thephotoresist layer cover the pixel electrode on the substrate.

In an exemplary embodiment, the portion of the sacrificial layer exposedwith the light may correspond to the liquid crystal injection hole and acolumn portion of the roof layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the etching the layer between thephotoresist layer and the sacrificial layer using the developedphotoresist layer as a mask may include: etching the lower insulatinglayer using the developed photoresist layer as a mask; removing thephotoresist layer; and etching the common electrode using the etchedlower insulating layer as a mask to expose the portion of thesacrificial layer exposed with the light.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include providing anadditional lower insulating layer on the substrate, before the providingthe roof layer on the substrate and the etching the roof layer to formthe liquid crystal injection hole therein and after removing the portionof the sacrificial layer exposed with the light.

In an exemplary embodiment, the providing the roof layer on thesubstrate and the etching the roof layer to form the liquid crystalinjection hole therein may include: the providing the roof layer on thesubstrate; exposing a portion of the provided roof layer correspondingto the removed portion of the sacrificial layer with light; developingthe portion of the roof layer exposed with the light; providing an upperinsulating layer on the substrate to cover the developed roof layer; andremoving a portion of the upper insulating layer corresponding to theremoved portion of the sacrificial layer to form the liquid crystalinjection hole.

In an exemplary embodiment, the etching the layer between thephotoresist layer and the sacrificial layer using the developedphotoresist layer as a mask may include: etching the common electrodeusing the developed photoresist layer as a mask to expose the portion ofthe sacrificial layer exposed with the light; and removing thephotoresist layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the removing the photoresist layer mayinclude using an ashing process, and the exposed portion of thesacrificial layer may be partially removed by the ashing process.

In an exemplary embodiment, the removed portion of the sacrificial layerby the ashing process may be positioned under the common electrode.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method may further include providing anadditional lower insulating layer on the substrate, before the providingthe roof layer on the substrate and the etching the roof layer to formthe liquid crystal injection hole therein and after the removing theportion of the sacrificial layer exposed with the light.

In an exemplary embodiment, the providing the roof layer on thesubstrate and the etching the roof layer to form the liquid crystalinjection hole therein may include: the providing the roof layer on thesubstrate; exposing a portion of the provided roof layer correspondingto the removed portion of the sacrificial layer with light; developingthe portion of the roof layer with the light; providing an upperinsulating layer on the substrate to cover the developed roof layer; andremoving a portion of the upper insulating layer corresponding to theremoved portion of the sacrificial layer to form the liquid crystalinjection hole.

In an exemplary embodiment, the exposed portion of the sacrificial layermay correspond to the liquid crystal injection hole and a column portionof the roof layer.

An exemplary embodiment of a liquid crystal display according to theinvention includes: an insulation substrate; a pixel electrode disposedon the insulation substrate; a plurality of microcavities defined on thepixel electrode; a plurality of common electrodes disposed on themicrocavities, respectively; a roof layer which covers the commonelectrodes and the microcavities and includes a column portion; and aliquid crystal layer disposed in the microcavity, where adjacentmicrocavities are connected to each other.

In an exemplary embodiment, the column portion of the roof layer mayextend substantially in a first direction and may be disposed betweenthe microcavities, and an empty space may be defined in the columnportion, and the microcavities may be connected through the empty spacein the column portion.

In an exemplary embodiment, a liquid crystal injection hole may bedefined between the microcavities adjacent to each other in the firstdirection, and the liquid crystal injection hole may be exposed by theroof layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the common electrodes adjacent to each otherin a second direction, which is substantially perpendicular to the firstdirection, may be connected to each other through the empty space in thecolumn portion of the roof layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid crystal display may furtherinclude a lower insulating layer disposed between the roof layer and thecommon electrode.

In an exemplary embodiment, the lower insulating layer may have apattern corresponding to the common electrodes.

In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid crystal display may furtherinclude an additional lower insulating layer disposed between the lowerinsulating layer and the roof layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid crystal display may furtherinclude an upper insulating layer which encloses upper and side surfacesof the roof layer.

In exemplary embodiments, the influence of the developing treatment orthe heat treatment is not performed before removing the sacrificiallayer such that the sacrificial layer is substantially entirely removedduring a process for removing the sacrificial layer, and the cell gap ofthe microcavity is thereby substantially uniformly maintained. In suchexemplary embodiments, the common electrode is provided only on themicrocavity and spaced apart from the pixel electrode at a predetermineddistance such that a short circuit between the common electrode and thepixel electrode is effectively prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features of the invention will become more apparentby describing in further detail exemplary embodiments thereof withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of pixels of an exemplary embodiment of aliquid crystal display according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a portion of the pixels of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-B of FIG. 1 and FIG.2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-D of FIG. 1 and FIG.2;

FIG. 5 to FIG. 16 are cross-sectional views taken along a linecorresponding to line E-F of FIG. 1, sequentially showing an exemplaryembodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal displayaccording to an exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along the line E-F;

FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are cross-sectional views taken along al linecorresponding to line C-D of FIG. 1, sequentially showing an exemplaryembodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal displayaccording to the invention;

FIG. 19 to FIG. 21 are cross-sectional views sequentially showing analternative exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display according the invention;

FIG. 22 to FIG. 33 are cross-sectional views sequentially showing analternative exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display according to the invention;

FIG. 34 to FIG. 36 are cross-sectional views sequentially showing analternative exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display according to the invention; and

FIG. 37 is a top plan view of a pixel of a liquid crystal displayaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of theinvention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms, and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on,” “connected to” or “coupled to” another element or layer, theelement or layer can be directly on, connected or coupled to the otherelement or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. Incontrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,”“directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element orlayer, there are no intervening elements or layers present. Like numbersrefer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third,etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions,layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These termsare only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer orsection from another region, layer or section. Thus, a first element,component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed asecond element, component, region, layer or section without departingfrom the teachings of the invention.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation, in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in thefigures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elementsor features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both anorientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “includes”and/or “including,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art andwill not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unlessexpressly so defined herein.

Embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference tocross-section illustrations that are schematic illustrations ofidealized embodiments (and intermediate structures) of the invention. Assuch, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, forexample, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to beexpected. Thus, embodiments of the invention should not be construed aslimited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but areto include deviations in shapes that result, for example, frommanufacturing. For example, a region illustrated or described as flatmay, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features. Moreover, sharpangles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, the regionsillustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes arenot intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region and are notintended to limit the scope of the claims set forth herein.

All methods described herein can be performed in a suitable order unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “suchas”), is intended merely to better illustrate the invention and does notpose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwiseclaimed. No language in the specification should be construed asindicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of theinvention as used herein.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described infurther detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Now, an exemplary embodiment of a liquid crystal display according tothe invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of pixels in an exemplary embodiment of aliquid crystal display according to the invention in a view top, FIG. 2is a top plan view of a portion of the pixels of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is across-sectional view taken along line A-B of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, and FIG.4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-D of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

In an exemplary embodiment of a liquid crystal display according to theinvention, a liquid crystal layer is disposed in a microcavity 305 on aninsulation substrate, and an opposing substrate is omitted. Hereinafter,a microcavity and a structure thereof in an exemplary embodiment will bedescribed in detail, and structures of wiring under the microcavity andelectrodes in such an embodiment is not limited to a specificstructures, but may have various structures.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are top plan views showing the pixels in an exemplaryembodiment of the liquid crystal display, and the structure of thewiring and the electrode are not shown therein. The structure of thewiring and the electrode in the pixels may be various, and the structureof the wiring and the electrode in an exemplary embodiment will bedescribed later in detail with reference to FIG. 37.

Now, a pixel electrode 191, the microcavity 305 and overlying layerswill be described.

In an exemplary embodiment, the microcavity 305 is supported by a rooflayer 360. The roof layer 360 includes a portion positioned on themicrocavity 305 and a column portion positioned at a side of themicrocavity 305. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the column portion of the rooflayer 360 is indicated by a quadrangular solid line. Also, an emptyportion 305-1 in the column portion of the roof layer 360 indicated by adotted line in FIG. 1 is a portion where the column portion of the rooflayer 360 is removed. The microcavity 305 is defined between adjacentcolumn portions of the roof layer 360.

The roof layer 360 is divided into a lower portion and an upper portionwith reference to a liquid crystal injection hole 307. A pixel may bedefined by adjacent microcavities 305 in a first direction (e.g., ay-direction) and positioned upwardly and downwardly with respect to theliquid crystal injection hole 307, respectively, or may be defined by asingle microcavity 305.

The microcavity 305 positioned upwardly or downwardly with respect tothe liquid crystal injection hole 307 is connected to microcavities 305disposed adjacent thereto in the second direction, e.g., thex-direction. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 as well as FIG. 4 which is across-sectional view taken line C-D of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, themicrocavities 305 disposed adjacent to each other in the x-direction areconnected by the empty portion 305-1 in the column portion of the rooflayer 360. In an exemplary embodiment, a common electrode 270 isconnected to each other in the x-direction through an upper portion ofthe empty portion 305-1 in the column portion of the roof layer 360. Theempty portion 305-1 in the column portion of the roof layer 360 betweenadjacent microcavities 305 is also referred to as a connection 305-1 ofthe adjacent microcavities 305.

In an exemplary embodiment, a thin film transistor of the pixel may bedisposed in a region where the liquid crystal injection hole 307 isdefined.

FIG. 2 shows the microcavity 305 positioned at one side of the liquidcrystal injection hole 307 in FIG. 1. The cross-sectional view takenline A-B of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 3, and the cross-sectional viewtaken line C-D of FIG. 2 is shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, an upper structure of the pixel electrode191 in the pixel of an exemplary embodiment will be described.

In an exemplary embodiment, a passivation layer (not shown) is disposedon the thin film transistor (not shown) and the wiring (not shown) on asubstrate (not shown), and the pixel electrode 191 is disposed on thepassivation layer. The pixel electrode 191 may include a transparentconductive material such as indium tin oxide (“ITO”) or indium zincoxide (“IZO”), for example. The pixel electrode 191 receives a datavoltage from the thin film transistor through a contact hole.

The microcavity 305 is defined on the passivation layer and the pixelelectrode 191. The liquid crystal layer including liquid crystalmolecules 310 is disposed in the microcavity 305.

An upper surface of the microcavity 305 is substantially horizontal withrespect to the substrate, and a side surface of the microcavity 305 istapered. The microcavity 305 is a space provided by removing asacrificial layer during a manufacturing process, and the commonelectrode 270 and a lower insulating layer 350 are disposed on themicrocavity 305. In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, thecommon electrode 270 may be disposed only at the upper surface of themicrocavity 305.

In such an embodiment, as described above, the pixel electrode 191 andthe passivation layer are positioned under the microcavity 305. Thecolumn portion of the roof layer 360 is positioned at the side surfaceof the microcavity 305. In such an embodiment, the microcavity 305 isthe space defined by the common electrode 270, the pixel electrode 191,the passivation layer and the column portion of the roof layer 360.

The liquid crystal layer is disposed inside the microcavity 305, and analignment layer (not shown) may be provided inside the microcavity 305to arrange the liquid crystal molecules 310 of the liquid crystal layerin the microcavity 305. The alignment layer as a liquid crystalalignment layer may include a material such as polyamic acid,polysiloxane, or polyimide, for example.

The liquid crystal layer is disposed inside the microcavity 305 (e.g.,in the alignment layer in the microcavity 305). The liquid crystalmolecules 310 are initially arranged by the alignment layer, and anarrangement direction of the liquid crystal molecules 310 is changed byan electric field generated therein. A height of the liquid crystallayer corresponds to a height of the microcavity 305. The liquid crystallayer in the microcavity 305 is also referred to as a nanocrystal layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the liquid crystal layer in the microcavity305 may be provided, e.g., inserted, into the microcavity 305 usingcapillary force, and the alignment layer may be provided using thecapillary force.

In the column portion of the roof layer 360 positioned between theadjacent microcavities 305, as shown in FIG. 4, the empty portion 305-1is defined. In such an embodiment, the adjacent microcavities 305, thecommon electrode 270 and the lower insulating layer 350 on themicrocavity 305 are connected to each other through the empty portion305-1.

The common electrode 270 is disposed on the microcavity 305. The commonelectrode 270 is positioned at the upper surface of the microcavity 305and is also disposed on the empty portion 305-1 in the column portion ofthe roof layer 360. In such an embodiment, adjacent common electrodes270 are spaced apart from each other with respect to the liquid crystalinjection hole 307. The common electrode 270 may include the transparentconductive material such as ITO or IZO, for example, and generates anelectric field along with the pixel electrode 191, thereby controllingthe arrangement direction of the liquid crystal molecules 310.

The lower insulating layer 350 is disposed on the common electrode 270.The lower insulating layer 350 may include an inorganic insulatingmaterial such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx) andsilicon oxynitride (SiOxNy), for example. The lower insulating layer 350is disposed only on the common electrode 270, thereby havingsubstantially the same planar shape as the common electrode 270. In anexemplary embodiment, the lower insulating layer 350 may have an edgedisposed along an edge of the common electrode 270. The lower insulatinglayer 350 is disposed on the upper surface of the microcavity 305 andthe empty portion 305-1 in the column portion of the roof layer 360.

The roof layer 360 is disposed on the lower insulating layer 350. Theroof layer 360 may support the microcavity 305 defined between the pixelelectrode 191 and the common electrode 270, and may include aphotoresist and various organic materials. The roof layer 360 includesthe portion positioned on the microcavity 305 and the column portionpositioned at the side of the microcavity 305. The column portion of theroof layer 360 extends substantially in a vertical direction (e.g., thefirst direction or the y-direction), and the column portion may notdisposed in the empty portion 305-1 and the liquid crystal injectionhole 307. In the roof layer 360, the portion positioned on themicrocavity 305 may expose the liquid crystal injection hole 307.

An upper insulating layer 370 is disposed on the roof layer 360. Theupper insulating layer 360 is disposed on the side surface of the rooflayer 360 as well as on the roof layer, thereby having a structureenclosing the roof layer 360. Referring to FIG. 20 and FIG. 36, theupper insulating layer 370 may include the inorganic insulating materialsuch as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx) and siliconoxynitride (SiOxNy), for example.

The common electrode 270, the lower insulating layer 350, the roof layer360 and the upper insulating layer 370 expose the liquid crystalinjection hole 307 at a side surface thereof to insert the liquidcrystals 310 into the microcavity 305. The liquid crystal injection hole307 may be used to remove a sacrificial layer, which may be provided forforming the microcavity 305.

A capping layer (not shown) is disposed on the upper insulating layer370, thereby enclosing the liquid crystal injection hole 307. The liquidcrystal injection hole 307 is covered by the capping layer such that theliquid crystal molecules 310 are effectively prevented from being leakedthrough the liquid crystal injection hole 307.

In an exemplary embodiment, a polarizer (now shown) may be disposedunder the substrate and on the capping layer. The polarizer may includea polarized element that generates polarization and atri-acetyl-cellulose (“TAC”) layer for ensuring durability. In anexemplary embodiment, directions of transmissive axes of an upperpolarizer and a lower polarizer may be substantially perpendicular orparallel to each other.

Next, an exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display according to the invention will be described.

FIG. 5 to FIG. 16 are views taken along a line corresponding to line E-Fof FIG. 1, sequentially showing an exemplary embodiment of amanufacturing method of a liquid crystal display according to theinvention.

In FIG. 5 to FIG. 16, the microcavity 305 including the pixel electrodeor the structure of the underlying layers of the sacrificial layer 300is not shown. In an exemplary embodiment, the structure of theunderlying layers of the sacrificial layer 300 may be various, and thusprocesses before providing the sacrificial layer 300 will be hereinafteromitted.

Referring to FIG. 5, after providing, e.g., forming, the passivationlayer (not shown) and the pixel electrode (not shown), the sacrificiallayer 300, the common electrode 270, the lower insulating layer 350 andthe photoresist layer 310 are sequentially provided, e.g., deposited,thereon substantially in an entire surface thereof. In an exemplaryembodiment, the sacrificial layer 300 and the photoresist layer 310 mayinclude the photoresist and may have substantially the samephoto-characteristic. In an exemplary embodiment, where the sacrificiallayer 300 includes a positive photoresist, the photoresist layer 310also includes the positive photoresist. In an alternative exemplaryembodiment, where the sacrificial layer 300 includes a negativephotoresist, the photoresist layer 310 also includes the negativephotoresist. In an exemplary embodiment, the sacrificial layer 300 andthe photoresist layer 310 have substantially the samephoto-characteristic, but may include different materials from eachother. Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment, where the sacrificial layer300 and the photoresist layer 310 include substantially the samephotoresist material, will be described.

In an exemplary embodiment, the common electrode 270 includes thetransparent conductive material such as ITO or IZO, for example, and thecommon electrode 270 is provided, e.g., deposited, over the sacrificiallayer 300. The lower insulating layer 350 including the inorganicinsulating material such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx)and silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy), for example, is provided thereon.

Next, as shown in FIG. 6, an exposure process is performed by exposingwith light. The characteristic of the underlying sacrificial layer 300as well as the photoresist layer 310 is changed by the exposure process.In FIG. 6, portions of the sacrificial layer 300 and the photoresistlayer 310, in which the photoresist characteristic thereof are changedby the exposure process, are indicated by the reference numerals 310-1and 300-1, and the oblique lines therein are removed. As describedabove, in such an embodiment, the common electrode 270 and the lowerinsulating layer 350 positioned on the sacrificial layer 300 includetransparent materials such that the exposure process is effectivelyperformed on the sacrificial layer 300 therebelow. In an exemplaryembodiment, exposure intensity or an exposure amount may be controlledbased on the decreased intensity of the light reaching the sacrificiallayer 300 by the common electrode 270 and the lower insulating layer350. The exposure region includes a region where the sacrificial layer300 is removed to provide the liquid crystal injection hole 307. In suchan embodiment, the sacrificial layer 300 in the region corresponding tothe column portion of the roof layer 360 is exposed such that thecharacteristic thereof may be changed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 7, the portion 310-1, where the characteristicthereof is changed, is developed and removed in the photoresist layer310.

Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the underlying lower insulating layer 350 ispatterned using the photoresist layer 310 as a mask. In an exemplaryembodiment, an etching may be performed through dry etching or wetetching. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower insulating layer 350 isetched through the dry etching.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the photoresist layer 310 is removed throughan ashing process.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the common electrode 270 is etched using thepatterned lower insulating layer 350 as a mask. The etching of thecommon electrode 270 may be performed through the dry etching or the wetetching. In one exemplary embodiment, for example, the wet etching isperformed to pattern the common electrode 270. In such an embodiment,the sacrificial layer 300 is exposed by the etching of the commonelectrode 270, and the exposed position in the sacrificial layer 300corresponds to the liquid crystal injection hole 307.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11, the portion 300-1 of the sacrificial layer300 that is exposed through the liquid crystal injection hole 307 isdeveloped and removed. In an exemplary embodiment, the characteristic ofthe portion 300-1 that is previously exposed in the exposure processdescribed referring to FIG. 6 is changed such that the portion 300-1 maybe removed through simple developing. In such an embodiment, thesacrificial layer 300 positioned under the common electrode 270 does notcontact a developer used for developing such that the layercharacteristic of the sacrificial layer 300 is not changed. Accordingly,in such an embodiment, the sacrificial layer 300 may be substantiallyentirely and efficiently and effectively removed during a process ofremoving the sacrificial layer 300 thereafter. Next, in FIG. 11, anadditional lower insulating layer 351 is provided, e.g., deposited, onthe entire surface of the substrate. The additional lower insulatinglayer 351 may include a material including the inorganic insulatingmaterial such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx) andsilicon oxynitride (SiOxNy), for example. According to an alternativeexemplary embodiment, the additional lower insulating layer 351 may beomitted. The additional lower insulating layer 351 may protect thesacrificial layer 300 such that the sacrificial layer 300 is effectivelyprevented from being removed when developing and patterning the rooflayer 360.

Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the roof layer 360 is provided onsubstantially the entire surface of the substrate. The roof layer 360may include an organic material or a photoresist material like thesacrificial layer 300. In an exemplary embodiment, the roof layer 360may have substantially the same characteristic as the sacrificial layer300, but not being limited thereto. In an alternative exemplaryembodiment, the characteristics of the roof layer 360 and thesacrificial layer 300 may be different from each other.

In an exemplary embodiment, the common electrode 270 and the lowerinsulating layer 350 may be removed and then deposited again on thesacrificial layer 300 before providing the roof layer 360 such that apossibility of the characteristic change of the sacrificial layer 300,the common electrode 270 and the lower insulating layer 350 issubstantially reduced or minimized.

Next, as shown in FIG. 13, a portion of the roof layer 360 is exposed.The layer characteristic of the exposed portion 360-1 of the roof layer360 is changed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, by developing the roof layer 360, the exposedportion 360-1 thereof is removed such that the roof layer 360 ispatterned. Next, the additional lower insulating layer 351 is etchedusing the patterned roof layer 360 as a mask. The additional lowerinsulating layer 351 may be etched through the wet etching or the dryetching. In an exemplary embodiment, the additional lower insulatinglayer 351 is etched by the dry etching, such that the side surface ofthe sacrificial layer 300 is exposed and the liquid crystal injectionhole 307 is thereby formed.

A length of the roof layer 360 in the vertical direction (e.g., a heightof the roof layer 360) may be equal to or smaller than a length of thesacrificial layer 300 in the vertical direction (e.g., a height of thesacrificial layer 300).

Next, as shown in FIG. 15, the lower insulating layer 350 and the commonelectrode 270 thereunder are etched using the etched additional lowerinsulating layer 351 as a mask. In such an embodiment, the dry etchingmay be performed for the different layers having differentcharacteristics, such that the upper portion of the sacrificial layer300 is partially exposed, and the liquid crystal injection hole 307becomes further widened.

Next, as shown in FIG. 16, a stripper is provided through the liquidcrystal injection hole 307 to remove the sacrificial layer 300 includingthe photoresist such that the microcavity 305 is provided. In general,when removing the sacrificial layer 300 by the wet etching, the layercharacteristic of the sacrificial layer 300 may be changed by thedeveloper, and a portion of the sacrificial layer 300 may remain insidethe microcavity 305 such that the cell gap in the microcavity 305 maynot be substantially uniformly maintained. Accordingly, a deteriorationof display quality of the liquid crystal display may occur. In anexemplary embodiment of the invention, the sacrificial layer 300 underthe common electrode 270 does not contact the developer such that thelayer characteristic is not changed. Accordingly, in such an embodiment,the etchant such as the stripper is efficiently and effectively removedsuch that the sacrificial layer 300 does not remain in the microcavity305.

In an exemplary embodiment, a process of providing the alignment layerand the liquid crystal layer in the microcavity 305 is performed usingthe capillary force.

Next, a process of sealing the microcavity 305 may be performed byproviding a capping layer that effectively prevents the liquid crystallayer in the microcavity 305 from being leaked.

In such an embodiment, a process of attaching a polarizer to theunderside of the substrate and on the capping layer may be furtherincluded.

In an exemplary embodiment of a method of manufacturing the liquidcrystal display, where the liquid crystal layer is provided in themicrocavity 305, the common electrode 270 is positioned only on theupper surface of the microcavity 305 and the pixel electrode ismaintained at a predetermined distance from the common electrode 270such that a short between the pixel electrode and the common electrode270 and the display deterioration due to the parasitic capacitancebetween the pixel electrode and the common electrode 270 may beeffectively prevented.

Next, an exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display will be sequentially described with reference to FIG. 17and FIG. 18.

FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 are cross-sectional views taken along a linecorresponding to line C-D, sequentially showing an exemplary embodimentof a manufacturing method of a liquid crystal display according to theinvention.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 12. A portion ofthe sacrificial layer 300 corresponding to line C-D of FIG. 1 remainswhen the sacrificial layer 300 is exposed and developed such that thelayered structure is shown in FIG. 17 is provided.

Next, the roof layer 360 is exposed and developed to form a liquidcrystal injection hole 307.

Next, as shown in FIG. 18, the sacrificial layer 300 exposed through theliquid crystal injection hole 307 is removed by wet etching to form themicrocavity 305. In FIG. 18, a portion including a connection 305-1 thatconnects the adjacent microcavities 305 is shown.

Next, an alternative exemplary of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display will be described with reference to FIG. 19 to FIG. 21.

FIG. 19 to FIG. 21 are cross-sectional views sequentially showing analternative exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display according to the invention.

FIG. 19 shows a process that may be performed after the processdescribed with reference to FIG. 14. In an exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 19, an upper insulating layer 370 covering the entiresurface of the roof layer 360 and the substrate is provided. The upperinsulating layer 370 may include the inorganic insulating material suchas silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx) and silicon oxynitride(SiOxNy), for example.

Next, as shown in FIG. 20, the material of the upper insulating layer370 covering the liquid crystal injection hole 307 is etched to expose aportion of the sacrificial layer 300. In an exemplary embodiment, aphotoresist pattern that exposes the liquid crystal injection hole 307on the upper insulating layer 370 may be provided, and the dry etchingmay be performed using the photoresist pattern as a mask.

Next, as shown in FIG. 21, the exposed sacrificial layer 300 is wetetched and removed.

In the exemplary embodiment of the manufacturing method shown in FIG. 19to FIG. 21, the roof layer 360 is protected by the upper insulatinglayer 370 such that the roof layer 360 is protected when wet-etching thesacrificial layer 300. In such an embodiment, the roof layer 360 and thesacrificial layer 300 may include substantially the same material aseach other.

Next, another alternative exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing methodof a liquid crystal display according to the invention will be describedwith reference to FIG. 22 to FIG. 33.

FIG. 22 to FIG. 33 are cross-sectional views sequentially showing analternative exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display according to the invention.

FIG. 22 to FIG. 33 are the cross-sectional views taken along a linecorresponding to line E-F of the liquid crystal display of FIG. 1 asFIG. 5 to FIG. 16, and the microcavity 305 including the pixel electrodeor the structure of the underlying layers of the sacrificial layer 300are not shown. The structure of the underlying layers may be variouslymodified, and thus, processes after a process of providing thesacrificial layer 300 will now be described in detail.

Firstly, referring to FIG. 22, the sacrificial layer 300, the commonelectrode 270 and the photoresist layer 310 are continuously depositedon the entire surface of a passivation layer (not shown) and a pixelelectrode (not shown) after providing the passivation layer and thepixel electrode. In such an embodiment, the sacrificial layer 300 andthe photoresist layer 310 may include the photoresist and also havesubstantially the same photocharacteristic. In an exemplary embodiment,where the sacrificial layer 300 includes a positive photoresist, thephotoresist layer 310 includes the positive photoresist. In analternative exemplary embodiment, where the sacrificial layer 300includes a negative photoresist, the photoresist layer 310 includes thenegative photoresist. In such an embodiment, where the sacrificial layer300 and the photoresist layer 310 have substantially the samephotocharacteristic, the sacrificial layer 300 and the photoresist layer310 may include different materials from each other.

In an exemplary embodiment, the common electrode 270 includes thetransparent conductive material such as ITO or IZO, for example, and thecommon electrode 270 is provided under the sacrificial layer 300 and thephotoresist layer 310.

Next, as shown in FIG. 23, an exposure process is performed with light.In an exemplary embodiment, the photoresist layer 310 and the underlyingsacrificial layer 300 are exposed by the exposure process such that thecharacteristic thereof is changed. In FIG. 23, portions of thesacrificial layer 300 and the photoresist layer 310, in which thephotoresist characteristic thereof are changed by the exposure process,are indicated by the reference numerals 310-1 and 300-1, and the obliquelines therein are removed. As described above, in such an embodiment,the common electrode 270 and the lower insulating layer 350 positionedon the sacrificial layer 300 include transparent materials such that theexposure process is effectively performed on the sacrificial layer 300therebelow. In an exemplary embodiment, exposure intensity or anexposure amount may be controlled based on the decreased intensity ofthe light reaching the sacrificial layer 300 by the common electrode 270and the lower insulating layer 350. The exposure region includes aregion where the sacrificial layer 300 is removed to provide the liquidcrystal injection hole 307. In such an embodiment, the sacrificial layer300 in the region corresponding to the column portion of the roof layer360 is exposed such that the characteristic thereof may be changed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 24, the portion 310-1 where the characteristicthereof is changed is developed and removed in the photoresist layer310.

Next, as shown in FIG. 25, the common electrode 270 is etched using thepattern of the photoresist layer 310 as a mask to form the liquidcrystal injection hole 307 exposing the sacrificial layer 300. Theetching may be performed through dry etching or wet etching. In oneexemplary embodiment, for example, the common electrode 270 is etchedthrough the wet etching.

Next, as shown in FIG. 26, the photoresist layer 310 is removed throughan ashing process. In such an embodiment, the portion 300-1 exposedthrough the liquid crystal injection hole 307 is partially removed.Also, the portion of the sacrificial layer 300 covered by the commonelectrode 270 is partially removed such that an undercut structure U isformed under the common electrode 270.

Next, as shown in FIG. 27, the portion 300-1 of the sacrificial layer300 exposed through the liquid crystal injection hole 307 is removed.The characteristic of the portion 300-1 that is exposed in the exposureprocess shown in FIG. 23 is already changed such that the portion 300-1may be removed through the simple developing. In such an embodiment, thesacrificial layer 300 positioned under the common electrode 270 does notcontact a developer which may be used when developing the portion 300-1of the sacrificial layer 300 such that the characteristic of thesacrificial layer 300 is not changed, and the sacrificial layer 300 isthereby substantially entirely and effectively removed during a processfor removing the sacrificial layer 300 thereafter.

Next, as shown in FIG. 28, the lower insulating layer 350 is provided,e.g., deposited, on the entire surface of the substrate. The lowerinsulating layer 350 includes the material including the inorganicinsulating material such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx)and silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy), for example. The lower insulating layer350 may protect the sacrificial layer 300 such that the sacrificiallayer 300 is effectively prevented from being removed when developingand patterning the roof layer 360.

Next, as shown in FIG. 29, the roof layer 360 is provided, e.g.,deposited, on the entire surface of the substrate. The roof layer 360may include the organic material or the photoresist material as thesacrificial layer 300. The roof layer 360 may have substantially thesame characteristic as the sacrificial layer 300, but not being limitedthereto. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the characteristics ofthe roof layer 360 and the sacrificial layer 300 may be different fromeach other.

Next, as shown in FIG. 30, a portion of the roof layer 360 is exposedsuch that the characteristic of the exposed portion 360-1 of the rooflayer 360 is changed.

Next, as shown in FIG. 31, the exposed portion 360-1 is removed bydeveloping the roof layer 360 such that the roof layer 360 is patterned.The length of the roof layer 360 in a vertical direction (e.g., heightof the roof layer 360) may be equal to or less than a length of thesacrificial layer 300 in the vertical direction (e.g., height of thesacrificial layer 300).

Next, as shown in FIG. 32, the lower insulating layer 350 and the commonelectrode 270 are etched using the patterned roof layer 360 as a masksuch that the liquid crystal injection hole 307 exposing the sacrificiallayer 300 is provided. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower insulatinglayer 350 and the common electrode 270 may be etched by the dry etching.

Next, as shown in FIG. 33, a stripper is provided through the liquidcrystal injection hole 307 to remove the sacrificial layer 300 includingthe photoresist such that the microcavity 305 is provided. In general,when removing the sacrificial layer 300 by the wet etching, the layercharacteristic of the sacrificial layer 300 may be changed by thedeveloper, and the material of the partial sacrificial layer 300 mayremain inside the microcavity 305, such that the cell gap in themicrocavity 305 may not be substantially uniformly maintained.Accordingly, a deterioration of display quality of the liquid crystaldisplay may occur. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, thesacrificial layer 300 under the common electrode 270 does not contactthe developer such that the layer characteristic is not changed.Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, the etchant such as thestripper is efficiently and effectively removed such that thesacrificial layer 300 does not remain in the microcavity 305.

In an exemplary embodiment, a process of providing the alignment layerand the liquid crystal layer in the microcavity 305 is performed usingcapillary force.

Next, a process of sealing the microcavity 305 may be performed byproviding a capping layer that effectively prevents the liquid crystallayer in the microcavity 305 from being leaked.

In such an embodiment, the process of attaching the polarizer to theunderside of the substrate and on the capping layer may be furtherincluded.

In an exemplary embodiment of a method of manufacturing a liquid crystaldisplay, where the liquid crystal layer is provided in the microcavity305, the common electrode 270 is positioned only on the upper surface ofthe microcavity 305, and the pixel electrode is maintained at apredetermined distance from the common electrode 270 such that a shortbetween the pixel electrode and the common electrode 270 and the displaydeterioration due to the parasitic capacitance between the pixelelectrode and the common electrode 270 may be effectively prevented.

Next, an alternative exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of aliquid crystal display will be described with reference to FIG. 34 toFIG. 36.

FIG. 34 to FIG. 36 are cross-sectional views sequentially showing analternative exemplary embodiment of a manufacturing method of a liquidcrystal display according to the invention.

FIG. 34 shows a process that may be performed after the processdescribed with reference to FIG. 31. In an exemplary embodiment, asshown in FIG. 34, an upper insulating layer 370 is provided to cover theentire surface of the roof layer 360 and the substrate. The upperinsulating layer 370 may include the inorganic insulating material suchas silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxide (SiOx) and silicon oxynitride(SiOxNy), for example.

Next, as shown in FIG. 35, the upper insulating layer 370 covering theliquid crystal injection hole 307 is etched to expose a portion of thesacrificial layer 300. In an exemplary embodiment, a photoresist patternexposing the liquid crystal injection hole 307 on the upper insulatinglayer 370 may be provided, and the dry etching may be performed usingthe photoresist pattern as a mask.

Next, as shown in FIG. 36, the exposed sacrificial layer 300 is wetetched and removed.

In the exemplary embodiment of the manufacturing method shown in FIG. 34to FIG. 36, the roof layer 360 is protected by the upper insulatinglayer 370 such that the roof layer 360 is protected when wet-etching thesacrificial layer 300. In such an embodiment, the roof layer 360 and thesacrificial layer 300 may include substantially the same material.

In the exemplary embodiments described above, a structure under themicrocavity 305 may have various structures. The structure under themicrocavity 305 may include the thin film transistor, the wiring, thepixel electrode, the color filter and the light blocking member.Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the liquid crystal display willbe described with reference to FIG. 37.

FIG. 37 is a top plan view of a pixel of an exemplary embodiment of aliquid crystal display according to the invention.

FIG. 37 shows an exemplary embodiment where a pixel including subpixelsthat are defined by adjacent microcavities 305 positioned upwardly anddownwardly with respect to the liquid crystal injection hole 307,respectively.

In an exemplary embodiment, a gate line 121 and a storage voltage line131 are disposed on an insulation substrate including a transparentglass or plastic. The gate line 121 includes a first gate electrode 124a, a second gate electrode 124 b and a third gate electrode 124 c of apixel. The storage voltage line 131 includes storage electrodes 135 aand 135 b, and a protrusion 134 protruding in a direction toward thegate line 121. The storage electrodes 135 a and 135 b of the pixel havea structure surrounding a first subpixel electrode 192 h of the pixeland a second subpixel electrode 192 l of an upper pixel. In such anembodiment, as shown in FIG. 37, a horizontal portion 135 b of thestorage electrode may be a wire connected to a horizontal portion 135 bof an adjacent pixel (e.g., a left side pixel or a right side pixel).

A gate insulating layer (not shown) is disposed on the gate line 121 andthe storage voltage line 131. A semiconductor (not shown) positionedbelow a data line 171, a semiconductor (not shown) positioned belowsource/drain electrodes, and a semiconductor 154 positioned at a channelportion of a thin film transistor are disposed on the gate insulatinglayer.

A plurality of ohmic contacts (not shown) may be disposed on each of thesemiconductors 154 and between the data line 171 and source/drainelectrodes.

In such an embodiment, data conductors 171, 173 a, 173 b, 173 c, 175 a,175 b and 175 c, which include the data line 171 including a firstsource electrode 173 a and a second source electrode 173 b, a firstdrain electrode 175 a, a second drain electrode 175 b, a third sourceelectrode 173 c, and a third drain electrode 175 c, are disposed on thesemiconductors 154 and the gate insulating layer.

In such an embodiment, the first gate electrode 124 a, the first sourceelectrode 173 a and the first drain electrode 175 a collectively definea first thin film transistor together with the semiconductor 154, and achannel of the thin film transistor is formed at the semiconductorportion 154 between the first source electrode 173 a and the first drainelectrode 175 a. Similarly, the second gate electrode 124 b, the secondsource electrode 173 b and the second drain electrode 175 b collectivelydefine a second thin film transistor together with the semiconductor154, and a channel of the thin film transistor is formed at thesemiconductor portion 154 between the second source electrode 173 b andthe second drain electrode 175 b. The third gate electrode 124 c, thethird source electrode 173 c and the third drain electrode 175 ccollectively define a third thin film transistor together with thesemiconductor 154, and a channel of the thin film transistor is formedat the semiconductor portion 154 between the third source electrode 173c and the third drain electrode 175 c.

In an exemplary embodiment, the data line 171 has a structure in which awidth thereof becomes smaller in a region of the thin film transistor inthe vicinity of an extension 175 c′ of the third drain electrode 175 csuch that an interval of the data line 171 from adjacent wiring iseffectively maintained and signal interference between the data line 171and the adjacent wiring is substantially reduced, but not being limitedthereto.

A first passivation layer (not shown) is disposed on the data conductors171, 173 c, 175 a, 175 b and 175 c and an exposed portion of thesemiconductor 154. The first passivation layer may include an inorganicinsulator such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy)and silicon oxide (SiOx), for example, or an organic insulator.

A color filter 230 is disposed on the passivation layer. Color filters230 of the same color are disposed along pixels arranged in a samedirection (e.g., a data line direction). Also, color filters 230 ofdifferent colors are disposed in pixels adjacent in a horizontaldirection (e.g., a gate line direction), and adjacent color filters 230may overlap the data line 171. The color filters 230 may display one ofprimary colors such as three primary colors of red, green and blue, forexample, but not being limited thereto. In one alternative exemplaryembodiment, for example, the color filters 230 may display one of cyan,magenta, yellow and white colors.

A light blocking member 220 (e.g., a black matrix) is disposed on thecolor filter 230. The light blocking member 220 is disposed in a region(hereafter referred to as “a transistor formation region”) where thegate line 121, the thin film transistor and the data line 171 aredisposed, and has a lattice structure having openings corresponding to aregion where an image is displayed. The color filter 230 is disposed inthe opening of the light blocking member 220. Also, the light blockingmember 220 may include a material that blocks light.

A second passivation layer (not shown) is disposed on the color filter230 and the light blocking member to cover the color filter 230 and thelight blocking member 220. The second passivation layer may include aninorganic insulator such as silicon nitride (SiNx), silicon oxynitride(SiOxNy) and silicon oxide (SiOx), for example, or an organic insulator.According to an exemplary embodiment, where a step occurs due to athickness difference between the color filter 230 and the light blockingmember 220, the second passivation layer including an organic insulatorsubstantially reduces or effectively removes the step difference.

A first contact hole 186 a and a second contact hole 186 b, which exposethe first drain electrode 175 a and extensions 175 b′ of the seconddrain electrode 175 b, respectively, are formed through the color filter230, the light blocking member 220 and the passivation layers. In suchan embodiment, a third contact hole 186 c, which exposes the protrusion134 of the storage voltage line 131 and the extension 175 c′ of thethird drain electrode 175 c, is formed through the color filter 230, thelight blocking member 220 and the passivation layers.

In an exemplary embodiment, where the contact holes 186 a, 186 b and 186c are formed through the light blocking member 220 and the color filter230 by etching the light blocking member 220 and the color filter 230,the light blocking member 220 or the color filter 230 may be previouslyremoved at the position corresponding to the contact holes 186 a, 186 band 186 c, as the light blocking member 220 or the color filter 230 maynot be effectively etched together with the passivation layers due tothe different layer characteristics thereof.

In an exemplary embodiment, the contact holes 186 a, 186 b and 186 c maybe formed by changing a position of the light blocking member 220 andetching only the color filter 230 and the passivation layers.

A pixel electrode including the first subpixel electrode 192 h and thesecond subpixel electrode 192 l is disposed on the second passivationlayer. The pixel electrode may include a transparent conductive materialsuch as ITO or IZO, for example.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first subpixel electrode 192 h and thesecond subpixel electrode 192 l are adjacent to each other in a columndirection, have a substantially quadrangular shape, and include across-shaped stem including a transverse stem and a longitudinal stemcrossing the transverse stem. In an exemplary embodiment, the firstsubpixel electrode 192 h and the second subpixel electrode 192 l aredivided into four subregions by the transverse stem and the longitudinalstem, and each subregion includes a plurality of minute branches.

The minute branches of the first subpixel electrode 192 h and the secondsubpixel electrode 192 l form angles in a range of about 40 degrees to45 degrees with the gate line 121 or the transverse stem. In anexemplary embodiment, the minute branches of two adjacent subregions maybe substantially perpendicular to each other. In such an embodiment, awidth of the minute branch may become gradually changes or intervalsbetween minute branches may be different from each other.

The first subpixel electrode 192 h and the second subpixel electrode 192l are physically and electrically connected to the first drain electrode175 a and the second drain electrode 175 b through the contact holes 186a and 186 b, and receive data voltages from the first drain electrode175 a and the second drain electrode 175 b.

In an exemplary embodiment, a connecting member 194 that electricallyconnects the extension 175 c′ of the third drain electrode 175 c and theprotrusion 134 of the storage voltage line 131 through the third contacthole 186 c is included such that a portion of the data voltage appliedto the second drain electrode 175 b is divided through the third sourceelectrode 173 c and thus the magnitude of a voltage applied to thesecond subpixel electrode 192 l may become smaller than the magnitude ofa voltage applied to the first subpixel electrode 192 h.

In an exemplary embodiment, an area of the second subpixel electrode 192l may be greater than or equal to an area of the first subpixelelectrode 192 h and less than twice the area of the first subpixelelectrode 192 h.

In an exemplary embodiment, an opening for collecting gas dischargedfrom the color filter 230 and an overcoat that covers the opening andincluding a material substantially the same as the pixel electrode 192(collectively 192 h and 192 l) thereon may be provided on the secondpassivation layer. The opening and the overcoat have structures forblocking the gas discharged from the color filter 230 from beingtransferred to another element, but may be omitted in an alternativeexemplary embodiment.

In such an embodiment, a microcavity 305 is defined on the secondpassivation layer and the pixel electrode 192, and a liquid crystallayer is disposed in the microcavity 305.

In such an embodiment, the upper structure above the microcavity 305 maybe substantially the same as the structure shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4,and any repetitive detailed description thereof will hereinafter beomitted.

The position and structure of the wiring, the pixel electrode and thethin film transistor in the pixel of exemplary embodiment of a liquidcrystal display is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.37, but may be variously modified.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A liquid crystal display comprising: aninsulation substrate; a pixel electrode disposed on the insulationsubstrate; a plurality of microcavities defined on the pixel electrode;a plurality of common electrodes disposed on the microcavities,respectively; a roof layer which covers the common electrodes and themicrocavities and comprises a column portion; and a liquid crystal layerdisposed in the microcavities, wherein adjacent microcavities areconnected to each other.
 2. The liquid crystal display of claim 1,wherein the column portion of the roof layer extends substantially in afirst direction and is disposed between the microcavities, and an emptyspace is defined in the column portion, and the microcavities areconnected through the empty space in the column portion.
 3. The liquidcrystal display of claim 2, wherein a liquid crystal injection hole isdefined between the microcavities adjacent to each other in the firstdirection, and the liquid crystal injection hole is exposed by the rooflayer.
 4. The liquid crystal display of claim 2, wherein the commonelectrodes adjacent to each other in a second direction, which issubstantially perpendicular to the first direction, are connected toeach other through the empty space in the column portion of the rooflayer.
 5. The liquid crystal display of claim 4, further comprising: alower insulating layer disposed between the roof layer and the commonelectrodes.
 6. The liquid crystal display of claim 5, wherein the lowerinsulating layer has a pattern corresponding to the common electrodes.7. The liquid crystal display of claim 5, further comprising: anadditional lower insulating layer disposed between the lower insulatinglayer and the roof layer.
 8. The liquid crystal display of claim 4,further comprising: an upper insulating layer which encloses upper andside surfaces of the roof layer.